Delicata squash are beautiful little critters. They are long and yellow with green stripes in the crevices and have a sort of cross between butternut squash and sweet potato flavor to them. In this case, that flavor pairs marvelously with the hint of coconut that’s added into the lentils and tofu.

Don’t get discouraged by the number of ingredients and steps. There are really only a few parts to this recipe that can cook while you work on the next: 1) marinate tofu, 2) cook squash, 3) cook lentils, 4) cook tofu, 5) put it together. Oh, and 6) Eat! Easy peasy.

Delicata Squash Stuffed with Lentils

Recipe by: Megabeth

Ingredients

2 delicata squash (or other winter squash)

coconut oil

12.3 oz extra firm tofu, drained

Tofu Marinade

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/4 cup rice wine vinegar

1/4 cup low-fat coconut milk

1 t turmeric

1 t cardamom

1 t curry

1/2 white onion, sliced

1 t ghee or coconut oil

1 cup yellow lentils (or brown)

1 clove garlic, minced

1 t turmeric

1/4 t mustard seeds

1 t cumin seeds

1 t curry

2.5 cups vegetable broth

1/4 cup low-fat coconut milk

slivered almonds or roasted pecans as garnish, optional

Press tofu to remove excess water. Cut into cubes. Whisk tofu marinade ingredients together in a small bowl. Put tofu into medium bowl and coat with marinade and set-aside for at least 10 minutes. The longer the better…

Preheat over to 400.

Cut the delicata squash in half lengthwise and remove seeds. Place on oiled baking sheet cut side up. Rub with coconut oil and sprinkle salt on each half. Put in preheated oven for 25 – 30 minutes – until soft. Scrape the flesh with the fork to “loosen” it up a little.

Saute onions in ghee over medium heat. Once softened add garlic and cumin and mustard seeds. Stir. Allow to cook 1 minute. Add spices and cook for about 30 seconds.

As the lentils and squash are finishing cooking, spread the marinated tofu on an oiled baking sheet and bake in oven for 20 minutes, turning frequently, until browned. **Alternatively** you can add some coconut oil into a saute pan on the stove and cook tofu over medium-high heat until browned.

Stir in the tofu into the cooked lentils. Scoop the lentil mixture into the squash halves. Add some slivered almonds or roasted pecans, as desired.

My bamboo steamer kept whispering to me every time I walked by it, “Use meeee. Use meeee.” So, finally, I listened and grabbed it off the shelf.

Now that the steamer was down on the counter, I knew wasn’t in the mood for an Asian dumpling so I hunted for something a little different. I’m glad I did, otherwise, I wouldn’t have found this unique recipe. It was also surprisingly quick and easy to make (if you don’t mind taking some time to grate the squash).

I used one acorn squash, and doubled all the other ingredients in the original recipe and was rewarded with 20 dumplings. It was enough for two hungry adults to wolf down as a main dish. It’s probably enough for a family of four to have as a side dish.

I also substituted flat leaf Italian parsley for the cilantro and reduced the amount of coriander. (Frequent readers will know that my in-house taste tester is the victim of the “soapy taste blues” whenever tasting either cilantro and coriander. So, as always, feel free to use what you wish.)

4 tablespoons mild peanut or vegetable oil, plus more for brushing the steamer

1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds

2 or 3 garlic cloves cut into slivers

1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley (original recipe used cilantro)

Peel and seed the squash. Grate and measure 1 1/2 cups of squash. Combine with the remaining dumpling ingredients and mix well. (Note: I sort of mushed the mixture together using the back of a spoon. I noticed the finer the grate, the better the mixture stayed together.)

Brush a steamer basket with oil or line a bamboo steamer with cheesecloth. Bring at least 1 inch of water to a boil in the steaming pot. Place heaping tablespoonfuls of the squash mixture 1/2 inch apart in the steamer basket.

Place over the boiling water, cover, and steam until a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean, about 4 minutes. You may have to steam them in batches. depending on the size of your steamer; add more boiling water for the second batch if necessary. (Note: I have a double steamer and was able to steam all 20 dumplings at the same time.) Ease out gently with a metal spatula and turn into a shallow serving dish.

Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the mustard seeds; when the seeds begin to sizzle and splutter, stir in the garlic. Cook until the garlic is lightly browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Turn off the heat and add the parsley.

Pour the seasoned oil over the dumplings, scraping the skillet with a rubber spatula. Toss well to coat. Serve immediately. Makes 4 to 6 servings. Preparation time: 15 minutes.

Oh boy did I need this soup. My bike commute home was wet, cold and miserable, but once I heated up this soup all became right with the world. The soup was smoky, savory and thick. Everything I needed to warm up from the cold ride. The spiced pumpkin seeds were a unique treat not normally seen on a weekday meal.

The original recipe came from the January 2009 issue of Vegetarian Times and asked for kabocha squash and pepitas. However, I wanted to use the last butternut squash I received from my vegetable deliveries. I also found some great looking pumpkin seeds at the organic market. So, I took the alternate path in making this recipe.

By the way, the first steps of the original recipe were to make the spiced seeds but I was able to make them when the soup was set to simmer.

And, finally, I’ll admit it…I accidentally used 2 Tablespoons instead of 2 teaspoons of smoked paprika in this preparation. But, you know, it actually came out really good! So, I don’t really consider it a mistake but a discovery. Yeah, that’s it.

Heat oil in large pot over medium high heat. Add onion, saute 5 to 7 minutes, then stir in garlic, smoked paprika, and bay leaf. Cook 1 minute more. (Note the 2 Tablespoons rather than 2 teaspoons of paprika I was supposed to put in…whoops!)

It may be the Tour de France but some stages do dip into other countries…as shall I. I’ve been focusing on French dishes but today’s stage ended in beautiful Barcelona, Spain. That means, it’s time to whip up a Paella!

There are literally thousands of ways to make paella. I used a lot of the vegetables that I received in my weekly vegetable delivery (including a lot of the green onions!) Feel free to throw in whatever vegetables you may have on hand beyond what I have listed below – carrots, asparagus, peppers, capers, whatever. The key is throwing it in at the right times so you don’t end up with a squishy vegetable mess. The more delicate the vegetable, the later you throw it in. Be sure to let the cover sit on the pan to let everything steam and cook, but check to make sure the liquid isn’t burning off too quickly or the rice won’t be able to cook very well.

Paella is actually very easy to make and it becomes a really hearty dish with not a lot of added extra fat. It’s a great dish to serve to a crowd and doesn’t require a lot of babysitting while it cooks. (And, if you ask nicely, perhaps someone will get up and check on the paella when it’s cooking so you don’t have to…)

1 cup uncooked white rice (if you use brown, increase the cooking time

3 corn cobs, cut into thirds

1 zucchini, sliced

1 yellow squash, sliced

½ cup frozen peas

1 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes

1 14 ounce can artichoke hearts, quartered

1 teaspoon saffron, crushed

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon dried oregano

salt and pepper

In a small bowl, put crushed saffron in 1 Tablespoon of water and set aside.

In a large cast iron skillet, heat olive oil on medium. Add onions and garlic and cook until translucent and softened.

Add white rice, stir to coat with the oil, and cook until beginning to brown.

Add one cup of vegetable stock and tomatoes.

Add saffron and the water it was soaked in, paprika, oregano, salt and pepper to taste. Stir to combine.

Turn heat to high and bring mixture to a boil. Once boiling reduce heat to low. Add zuchinni, yellow squash and corn. Cover with a tight fitting lid and let simmer for 20 minutes on low.

Life cover, stir, and add artichoke hearts, and more of the vegetable broth. Replace cover and continue simmering until rice is cooked through – another 20 – 30 minutes. Stir occasionally and add additional broth or water if rice begins to dry out in the cooking process.